London, Oct 24 : Twin sisters in the UK have defied all odds by celebrating their 101st birthday.

Elizabeth Sowerbutts and Mary Blackburn reached the landmark of a centenary last year, but they went a step further by turning 101 on Oct 21.

"It's a pretty rare feat,” the Telegraph quoted a Buckingham Palace spokesman, as saying.

The twins, who live in opposite parts of Britain, could not travel to see each other because of health restrains.

Elizabeth and Mary, born in1906 on a farm at Clitheroe in Lancashire, were brought up by a pair of maiden aunts after their mother died when they were just two-years-old.

Mary, who lives in a care home in Milnthorpe, Cumbria, has been twice married and now has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth, who has three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, now lives in a care home in Devon, close to where her only child Brian lives with his wife Jean.

"Both twins have been widowed for many years. But although living apart they have strong family likenesses. Unfortunately they were not well enough to travel and meet up on their 100th birthday and that is still the case,” Brian said.

"They haven't seen each other this year either. The journey would be too much for them,” he added. (ANI)